Improvement in ornamenting wood, metals



ED STATES RICHARD PARKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO HANNAH B. MOUNTAIN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ORNAMENTING WOOD, METALS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,616, dated March 12, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD PARKE, of the city and county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Process for Ornamentin g Woods, Metals, and other substances, of which the following is a specification:

In the process heretofore known of ornamenting wood, metal, &c., by transferring the design to the surface to be ornamented, the most serious difficulty in the process has been the removal of the transferring-paper from the receiving-surface. A very great disadvantage has attended this process heretofore in having to soak the ornamented article in a vat of water for some time in order to effect the removal of the transferring-paper therefrom, which even then can only be effectually removed by subsequent washing and rubbing of the ornamented surface to complete the removal of the sticking particles of the transferring-paper. This process often disfigures and destroys the transferred figure as the varnished surface which receives the impression is necessarily easily defaced while the design is unprotected by a coat of varnish. The soaking, washing, and rub bing process is very objectionable, whether it mars the design or not and it is the object of my invention to avoid this serious hindrance to the successful and economical method of transferring ornamental designs. The accomplishment of this remedy I have made by a new composition sizing, by the use of which th e transferringpaper may be easily and quick- 1y removed by being peeled off the ornamented surface intact immediately after it has been properly applied. In this respect my inven tion is of especial advantage in effectinga great a saving of labor and time, which, when producing such impressions in great numbers, becomes a matter of vital importance to thetrade. These results are achieved by the new component parts of the sizing which I employ for the transferring-paper-viz., glue, soft soap, and glycerine-which, being combined with other articles, produce an elastic sizing of just sufficient sticking quality to cause the transferringpaper to adhere to the varnished surface to be ornamented and allow it to be easily taken off, the three new ingredients of the sizing effectually preventing the permanent adhesion of the paper to the varnished surface. This is the feature which I have found to give success economically to the transferring process. An other highly advantageous result from the use of my new sizing composition for transferringpaper is, that the paper so sized does not require to be passed through rollers or under heavy pressure to effect the transfer, and thus save the expense of suitable machinery, time, and labor in manipulating the receiving and transferring articles under such pressure, because the paper thus sized is applied in a wet or dampened condition by hand, by being sponged on the back and evenly smoothed by a gentle smoothing pressure over and upon the varnished surface, to which the design is at once imparted, and the paper removed as easily as it was put on. The sizing, while imparting tenacity to the paper, takes to the varnished surface only sufficient to render its contact compact, and to give out the design.

In carrying out my new and improved process, I treat sheets of paper with a size made as follows I melt two ounces of common glue in half a gallon of water and let it boil. I then add half a pound of dissolved starch and stir it well. One pint of soft soap and four tablespoonfuls of glycerine are then added and the whole well mixed. Of the sizing thus prepared I apply two coats to the paper. 0n the paper soprepared I print or lithograph the design which I wish to transfer to the surface of wood, metal, or other substance, to which surface I apply a coat of varnish, which is allowed to stand until it becomes a little sticky. The back of the paper on which the print or lithograph has been placed is then dampened by water and the paper laid on the varnished surface, so that the print or lithograph comes into contact with the varnish. The varnish immediately absorbs the print or lithograph, while the paper, being prepared for that purpose, is easily peeled off,the varnish not sticking to its surface. It will be readily understood that prints or lithographs of any color, and of many colors may be transferred in this manner and if the surface of the wood or metal is first covered with a gold varnish, and then with the common varnish, and the print, which has any open design, transferred to it, the gold will'appear in the open spaces of the design and thus form a handsome ornament. Tin signs, waiters-in fact all tinware which now is commonly painted and ornamented by hand-may in this way be ornamented rapidly and much more accurately and handsomely than it can be done by hand. The lithographed orprintedpaper may be furnished in large quantities and different assortments of colors and designs. Vooden doors may be grained or paneled in this manner to imitate the hand-work, and the designs of wallpaper may in this manner be rapidly and cheaply put on a common white-Washedwall and form a perfect imitation of wall-paper. After the transfer has been made the surface is treated with one or more additional coats of varnish, as the nature of the case may require. Where the article so ornamented will be thereafter subjected to heat, or be liable to support hot articles, as would be the case in a Waiter, the article must, after receiving the last coat of varnish, be baked in an even heat of about 90 for a suitable length of time, which varies for the several substances.

Having described my invention, I claim-- 1. In the process of transferring figures, letters, and ornamentations from paper upon surfaces, I claim the transferringpaper prepared with the composition sizing herein described, whereby it can be removed from the receivingsnrface intact, and without snbj ecting', as heretofore, such surface to previous soaking and washing to eflect such removal, as described.

. 2. In the process of transferring impressions from sized paper, I claim the sizing herein described, for the purpose and to produce the advantages herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand to the above specification of my pro cess for ornamenting woods, metal, and other substances in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 17th day of January, A. 1). 1872.

RICHARD PARKE.

Witnesses:

W. E. CARPENTER, S. SoLoMoN. 

